Algebras of odd degree with involution, trace forms and dihedral extensions

A 3-fold Pfister form is associated to every involution of the second kind on a central simple algebra of degree 3. This quadratic form is associated to the restriction of the reduced trace quadratic form to the space of symmetric elements; it is shown to classify involutions up to conjugation. Subfields with dihedral Galois group in central simple algebras of arbitrary odd degree with involution of the second kind are investigated. A complete set of cohomological invariants for algebras of degree 3 with involution of the second kind is given.